Patents by Inventor Dirk Schulz

Dirk Schulz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210397173
    Abstract: An intent-based automation engineering method for automation of a production process includes: receiving an intent model, correlating to process intent, including production process functions, constraints on measurable properties on the production process functions, and/or production process function sequences required for the production process, as a received intent model; receiving a process model, correlating to process knowledge including a production process behavior, as a received process model; determining a machine-readable production model linking the received intent model to the received process model as a provided production model; and determining a control strategy for controlling the production process dependent on the provided production model as a determined control strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Raoul Jetley
  • Publication number: 20210365852
    Abstract: An automated maintenance schedule generation method includes: receiving planning data for designing a modular plant comprising physical modules as received planning data; selecting digital modules, correlating to respective physical modules, from a database, depending on the received planning data as respective correlating physical modules, the digital modules including maintenance information of the respective correlating physical modules; associating the selected digital modules depending on the received planning data; determining an expected maintenance need including an expected maintenance issue and/or an expected maintenance issue date for the selected physical modules depending on the received maintenance information as a determined maintenance need; and generating a maintenance schedule for the modular plant depending on the determined maintenance need.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Mario Hoernicke
  • Publication number: 20210349454
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a construction plan for a modular plant that is to execute a given industrial process includes: providing a flow chart of the industrial process, the flow chart including a sequence of actions, each action having at least one input for an educt to be processed by the action and at least one output for a product produced by the action, at least one product of one action being an educt for another action; providing at least one catalogue of module descriptions, each module description characterizing at least the educt inputs and the product outputs of at least one physical process module, and physical actions performed within the physical process module; and decomposing the flow chart into functional units with at least one educt input, at least one product output, and one or more actions leading from the one or more educts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Mario Hoernicke, Katharina Stark, Dirk Schulz, Raoul Jetley
  • Publication number: 20210349453
    Abstract: A method for generating a dynamic model of an industrial plant having: a plurality of physical processes that are dependent such that an outcome of at least one first process is fed into at least one second process; a plurality of low-level controllers, each controller acting upon at least one physical process such that at least one process variable of the at least one physical process is controlled to match a set-point of the low-level controller; and a plurality of sensors, each sensor measuring at least one process variable of one of the physical processes, and/or of the plant as a whole, the set-points of the low-level controllers and current values of the process variables measured by the sensors being the inputs of the model, and predicted future values of the process variables that are likely to result from applying the set-points to the low-level controllers being the outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jan Christoph Schlake, Mario Hoernicke, Dirk Schulz
  • Publication number: 20210350282
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing an installed base of multiple artificial intelligence (AI) modules, each AI module transforming input data into output data by an internal processing chain, the input data including data that characterize a state and/or the behavior, of at least one physical plant, apparatus, or system, the behavior of the internal processing chain being determined by a set of configuration parameters trainable based on training input data and corresponding reference data to which the internal processing chain is to map the training input data, the method including: obtaining, from multiple AI modules and/or domains in which the AI modules are applied, pairs of input data and corresponding output data, and/or pairs of training input data and corresponding reference data, and/or configuration parameters, the data and/or parameters relating to same or sufficiently similar operating situations of the AI modules according to a predetermined quantitative similarity criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventor: Dirk Schulz
  • Publication number: 20210286346
    Abstract: A method of commissioning a field device in an industrial system network includes: a) connecting a field device to an industrial system network; c) providing information about the field device, the information including functional information for the field device; d) utilizing the functional information for the field device to retrieve information relating to a role of the field device in an automation application; f) utilizing capability information relating to a field device type of the field device and the information relating to the role of the field device in the automation application to retrieve a parameter set for the field device for operation in the automation application; and g) downloading the parameter set to the field device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Roland Braun, Francisco Mendoza, Dirk Schulz, Heiko Koziolek, Andreas Burger
  • Publication number: 20200380126
    Abstract: A method for detection of harmful process intent in an intent-based production process includes: providing a machine-readable production model linking an intent model, correlating to process intent, including production process functions, constraints on measurable properties on the production process functions, and/or production process function sequences required for the production process, and a process model, correlating to process knowledge comprising a production process behavior; determining a safety library of at least one safety process intent, the safety library being protected by security mechanisms to be maintained outside of regular intent-based engineering mechanisms and operation mechanisms; evaluating changes of process intent in view of potentially harmful process intent dependent on the at least one safety process intent; and providing a report of potentially harmful process intent for auditing based on the potentially harmful process intent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Raoul Jetley
  • Publication number: 20200333770
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for interoperable communication between a server and a client, at least one of the server and client being a component of an automation system, the server being associated with a corresponding server data model, and the client being associated with a corresponding client data model, includes: obtaining a reference to the server; analyzing structure and output of the server to derive, based on at least a first technical specification, one or more element types associated with elements of the server data model; generating at least a partial mapping between the server data model and the client data model by applying a transformation rule set to the server data model, the transformation rule set defining for the one or more derived element types how instances of the one or more derived element types are to be transformed from the server data model associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Thomas Goldschmidt
  • Patent number: 10609567
    Abstract: A method for determining a wireless communication network realization in a plant where a process control system is provided includes receiving a user selection of wireless end point devices and locations of these in the plant, each being provided as at least one of a pair of endpoint devices that are to communicate with each other in relation to an automation function of the process control system, obtaining data communication requirements of the wireless endpoint devices, which are related to the automation functions and include at least one signal sent between a pair of endpoint devices and a time within which it has to reach its destination, and determining a number of wireless relay devices related to the locations of wireless endpoint devices in the plant for achieving a defined degree of radio coverage sufficient to satisfy the data communication requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Dirk Schulz
  • Patent number: 10505786
    Abstract: A method for locating a possible root cause of system discrepancy in a process control system uses a system model including software representations of process control endpoint devices interconnected via a communication network using a number of links, where each link is provided for communication in relation to a process control function between two endpoint devices and includes a set of communication network elements and a reference to a set of communication parameters of the process control function. In the method an indication that at least one communication parameter deviates from a communication requirement is obtained, a link where reference is made to the communication parameter identified, communication network elements contributing to the functioning of the link identified and at least one of the communication network elements indicated as a possible cause of the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Stefan Bollmeyer
  • Publication number: 20190342764
    Abstract: A method for determining a wireless communication network realization in a plant where a process control system is provided includes receiving a user selection of wireless end point devices and locations of these in the plant, each being provided as at least one of a pair of endpoint devices that are to communicate with each other in relation to an automation function of the process control system, obtaining data communication requirements of the wireless endpoint devices, which are related to the automation functions and include at least one signal sent between a pair of endpoint devices and a time within which it has to reach its destination, and determining a number of wireless relay devices related to the locations of wireless endpoint devices in the plant for achieving a defined degree of radio coverage sufficient to satisfy the data communication requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventor: Dirk Schulz
  • Publication number: 20180367368
    Abstract: A method for locating a possible root cause of system discrepancy in a process control system uses a system model including software representations of process control endpoint devices interconnected via a communication network using a number of links, where each link is provided for communication in relation to a process control function between two endpoint devices and includes a set of communication network elements and a reference to a set of communication parameters of the process control function. In the method an indication that at least one communication parameter deviates from a communication requirement is obtained, a link where reference is made to the communication parameter identified, communication network elements contributing to the functioning of the link identified and at least one of the communication network elements indicated as a possible cause of the deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Stefan Bollmeyer
  • Patent number: 10091066
    Abstract: An integration system and method, for a more efficient integration of communication devices in a distributed device management system (DMS), has several FDI and OPC UA components to be applied to and/or integrated in a DMS and providing one or more processing units, in particular at least one discovery unit as well as executable data structures, to discover and determine distributed operable communication servers and/or devices, in particular independent from their location, so to say independent whether they are located within the components of the DMS like for example the FDI servers, the FDI clients, OPC UA discovery servers or stand-alone in the engineering/control/field network, as well as to a corresponding DMS comprising said system and/or performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Dirk Schulz
  • Patent number: 9667755
    Abstract: A process automation system includes at least one wireless-aware component for detection of the occurrence (e.g., start and end) of a wireless volume data transfer from at least one other component which might be a wireless-unaware component. Upon such detection, the at least one wireless-aware component requests for bandwidth on behalf of the wireless-unaware component to decrease the communication time and subsequently releases this bandwidth again. A method is provided for operation of the process automation system, in which an upload/download is generally detected by either explicit initiation of the upload/download in the wireless-aware component, or by automatic detection in the wireless-aware component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Markus Ruppert
  • Patent number: 9533098
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection device including an injector and an ampoule unit for the needle-free injection of a medium. A needle-free injection device has a first chamber with an interior that opens into a nozzle, and has a second chamber with an interior that is separated from the interior of the first chamber. The interiors of the two chambers are connectable to each other, thus allowing a mixing and/or reaction of the media located in the chambers. In the first chamber, a powdery medium can be accommodated, and in the second chamber, a fluid medium is can be accommodated. The fluid medium can be transported into the first chamber for the mixing/reaction of the two media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: PAINLESS TECH GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Stormer-Talleur, Stephan Theuer, Dirk Schulz, Benedikt Lenzner
  • Patent number: 9415704
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes an adjusting device, for example for adjusting the height and/or tilt of a seat part structure and/or of a backrest structure connected to the seat part structure, wherein the adjusting device is fastened to the seat part structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Haida, Dirk Schulz, Holger Finner, Adrian Pawlowski, Patrick Jakob
  • Publication number: 20160182304
    Abstract: An integration system and method, for a more efficient integration of communication devices in a distributed device management system (DMS), has several FDI and OPC UA components to be applied to and/or integrated in a DMS and providing one or more processing units, in particular at least one discovery unit as well as executable data structures, to discover and determine distributed operable communication servers and/or devices, in particular independent from their location, so to say independent whether they are located within the components of the DMS like for example the FDI servers, the FDI clients, OPC UA discovery servers or stand-alone in the engineering/control/field network, as well as to a corresponding DMS comprising said system and/or performing said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: ABB Tecnhnology AG
    Inventor: Dirk Schulz
  • Publication number: 20160124409
    Abstract: A method exchanges or updates an old device of a process control system, wherein information is collected about the type and the entity of the old device as well as the type of a new device, wherein the information is compiled into a request, and the request is forwarded to an external service system, with which the request is analyzed and processed, whereupon a new device is compiled externally and is transferred to the process control system in a transfer and is integrated into the process control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Dirk Schulz
  • Patent number: 9056564
    Abstract: An adjusting device is disclosed for performing at least one adjusting function, such as in a vehicle seat. The device comprises a drive having a drive means and an output, a braking device that generally prevents torque from the output acting on the drive means. At least one spring is arranged between the drive and the braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Stefan Haida
  • Publication number: 20150012141
    Abstract: A method and computer system are disclosed to support technical tasks in distributed control systems. The system can store a workflow-aware object of a plurality of workflow-aware objects, wherein the workflow-aware object represents at least one component of an automation system. A computation component can be associated with the workflow-aware object, and have an interface to receive specific data of the automation system. The computation component can compute a workflow item based on a workflow item profile with user related information, and based on the specific data of the automation system, wherein the workflow item profile specifies an object reference to the at least one component of the automation system, and wherein the user related information is configured for retrieval of a user identifier associated with the automation system engineer. A workflow item collector can identify the workflow item based on predefined identification rules for communication to the automation system engineer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dirk SCHULZ, Rainer DRATH